Volume One: Menial Servant of Changshui County Chapter Seventy-Six: Stew Your Ancestor

After a short while, the young woman emerged from her home with a bowl of leftover rice and set it before the large yellow dog.

The dog ate noisily, gulping down the food.

“Poor Yellow!” the woman murmured affectionately, stroking the dog’s head. “My mother won’t let me keep cats or dogs, but you’re so pitiful. Here, I’ll leave you at Second Brother Lu’s house.”

“I’ll tell him about it later. Second Brother Lu is generous, and he’s often away from home. I’m sure he won’t mind. I’ll make you a little bed in the yard, and you can help him guard the house.”

The yellow dog was too busy eating to respond.

Once it had wolfed down the meal, a feeling of fullness finally settled in its belly.

The woman was unusually delicate and pretty, and the dog couldn’t help but move closer to her side.

…

This young woman was none other than Zhao Chan’er.

She opened the gate to Lu Jiuzhang’s residence and led the yellow dog into the courtyard, where she fashioned a simple shelter out of some worn linen and old clothes.

The moment the yellow dog entered Lu Jiuzhang’s yard, it began sniffing about eagerly.

There was a familiar scent inside the house!

The dog froze—could it be that, by some stroke of luck, it had arrived at the right place?

“Woof!” it barked, darting into the house.

Before long, it spotted a saber hanging on the wall.

That familiar scent emanated from the saber!

“Woof, woof, woof…” The dog barked several times at the sword.

The place was right—but where was the person?

“Yellow!”

Just then, Zhao Chan’er rushed in. “Yellow, without the owner’s permission, we can only stay in the courtyard. We mustn’t enter the rooms at will.”

Fearing the dog might dirty the house, Zhao Chan’er admonished it.

Hmph, these lowly humans dare to command me.

The yellow dog thought with disdain.

“If you behave yourself, tomorrow my mother will stew ribs. If there are bones left, I’ll save a few for you,” Zhao Chan’er said.

Bones?

Why didn’t you say so earlier!

The yellow dog wagged its tail, left the house, and quietly curled up in its new bed.

Seeing this, Zhao Chan’er smiled happily. “That’s more like it!”

…

Demon Slayers Division!

Zhou Cheng had stayed here last night and woke up early today.

He had visited the Pleasure Pavilion the day before, and afterward entered a sage-like mindset, feeling that his trip to the brothel had hindered his cultivation, so he decided to make up for lost time through extra practice.

“These few days I’ll train doubly hard, make up for what I wasted, and any excess is just more progress. Once I’ve banked enough hours, Brother Lu, we’ll go to the Pleasure Pavilion again.”

Zhou Cheng said with determination, “Last time the madam looked down on me—how infuriating!”

“I’ve saved up some silver over the years. No matter what, I can afford to live it up there for a few months!”

The madam’s ridicule had only fueled Zhou Cheng’s desire to spend.

Mainly, Zhou Cheng found the Pleasure Pavilion quite entertaining; occasional relaxation seemed harmless.

Hadn’t Chief Zhong gone there too?

Zhou Cheng reasoned that if the chief of the Demon Slayers, a mighty eighth-rank martial artist, frequented the place, then so could he.

At that moment, he kept reassuring himself.

“Ahem… Master Zhou, what a splendid idea!”

Lu Jiuzhang suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Zhou Cheng used to train with utmost diligence, but now he thought of nothing but the brothel.

…

“Master Lu!”

Near midday, as Lu Jiuzhang was about to eat lunch, a voice called out from the distance.

It was Wang Yunshan!

Recently, Wang Yunshan had been able to walk, albeit slowly.

Now that he could move about, he couldn’t wait to return to the Demon Slayers Division, unwilling to stay home any longer.

Not only was there no silver at home, but he had to face his wife every day—Wang Yunshan felt miserable!

“Brother Wang, your wounds have healed?”

Lu Jiuzhang set aside his saber and walked toward Wang Yunshan.

“Much better. I missed you, Brother Lu, so I came to the Division.”

He dared not admit he was fleeing his wife, lest he be mocked, so he claimed he missed his colleagues.

“Brother Wang, now that you’ve recovered, it’s only right for me to treat you to a meal as your junior—a token of my respect. But, thinking it over, I recall you love the brothel and dislike mundane customs, so I planned to take you there for a chat. However, if your wife hears of it, she’ll surely take it out on you.”

“So, perhaps it’s best to let the matter drop.”

???

Wang Yunshan was stunned—what nonsense was this!

If you don’t want to treat me, just say so. Why all this roundabout talk?

…

“Ahem… Master Lu, you’re too kind. My fondness for the brothel was in the past. Now, I just want to live peacefully with my wife. Please, don’t mention the brothel again, or I’ll be upset.”

Wang Yunshan felt he was lying to himself.

The brothel—such a wonderful place, such lovely girls—but he’d never see them again.

“Right, I almost forgot the main thing,” Wang Yunshan hurriedly said. “Your neighbor girl is outside the Division’s gate, looks like she’s brought you lunch.”

Zhao Chan’er was here?

Lu Jiuzhang clasped his hands. “Thank you, Brother Wang.”

After a brief farewell, Lu Jiuzhang headed toward the gate.

He had intended to stay inside the Division to avoid Madam Zhao’s overwhelming enthusiasm, but she had sent Zhao Chan’er to deliver lunch.

Come to think of it, this wasn’t the first time.

Last time Zhao Chan’er brought lunch, it caused a bit of trouble.

Lu Jiuzhang strode quickly to the front gate.

There, Zhao Chan’er was crouched across the street, a food box at her left, and a yellow dog lying on her right.

The dog looked dirty and somewhat dull.

“Chan’er!”

Lu Jiuzhang called out with a smile.

“Second Brother Lu!”

Seeing him, Zhao Chan’er ran excitedly to his side. “My mother stewed ribs and sent me to bring you a bowl. The soup smells wonderful, and knowing you like scallions and coriander, she added extra.”

“Thank you, Chan’er.”

Since she’d gone out of her way, Lu Jiuzhang had no choice but to accept.

Seeing the affection in Zhao Chan’er’s eyes, Lu Jiuzhang coughed lightly and changed the subject, “Chan’er, is this your family’s dog? I don’t recall seeing it before.”

Zhao Chan’er was about to answer when Lu Jiuzhang continued, “If you stew this mutt, it’d probably taste even better than the rib soup!”

Seriously?

The yellow dog was furious.

Enough already!

Why did everyone who saw it want to stew it?

“Stew your own grandfather!”

The yellow dog couldn’t help but curse aloud in human speech.

“Who’s talking?” Zhao Chan’er was startled, glancing around.

Lu Jiuzhang quietly pulled Chan’er behind him, his face wary as he stared at the yellow dog.